Hippocampus, Retrosplenial Cortex and Contextual Learning and Memory

项目总结/摘要 该项目旨在了解学习和记忆的神经机制。一个广泛 文献记载了海马、压后扣带皮层和前丘脑在 记忆功能。对这些大脑区域的损伤是记忆障碍的主要原因， 阿尔茨海默氏病、与年龄相关的记忆衰退以及各种人类遗忘综合征和学习 残疾。这些结构的缺失也与抑郁、焦虑和 精神分裂症了解这些系统的功能对于治疗的发展至关重要 这些患者的治疗策略。海马体的记忆作用已经被很好地记录了下来 虽然还没有被广泛研究，但压后皮质和前丘脑是 也被认为在学习和记忆中起着关键作用。然而，每一个人的确切贡献 大脑区域对学习过程的影响仍不清楚。最近的研究结果表明，这些密切 相互连接的结构形成介导空间和上下文记忆的功能电路。的 拟议的实验集中在理解如何记忆相关的信息是由 压后皮质神经元的变化，以及压后皮质、海马和前叶神经元之间的相互作用 丘脑支持记忆功能。为了研究这一点，神经元活动将被记录在这些 大鼠的大脑区域执行各种空间和上下文记忆任务。光遗传、化学遗传和 神经化学方法将被用来抑制神经元的活动，在不同的组成部分，这一电路， 来评估它们在更广泛的记忆回路中的作用。通过监测神经元的反应， 受试者学习和电路内暂时失活的影响，将有可能确定如何 处理与存储器相关的信息以及当电路内发生损坏时存储器如何可能失效。

Project Summary/Abstract This project is aimed at understanding the neural mechanisms of learning and memory. An extensive literature has documented the role of the hippocampus, retrosplenial cingulate cortex and anterior thalamus in memory functions. Damage to these brain regions is a primary cause of the memory impairments seen in Alzheimer's disease, age-related memory decline, and various human amnesic syndromes and learning disabilities. Abnormalities in these structures have also been implicated in depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. Understanding the function of these systems is crucial for the development of treatment strategies for patients with these conditions. The memory role of the hippocampus has been well documented and, although they have not been studied as extensively, the retrosplenial cortex and anterior thalamus are also known to play a critical role in learning and memory. However, the precise contribution of each of these brain regions to the learning process remains unclear. Recent findings suggest that these closely interconnected structures form a functional circuit which mediates spatial and contextual memory. The proposed experiments are focused on understanding how memory-related information is represented by neurons in the retrosplenial cortex, and how interactions of the retrosplenial cortex, hippocampus and anterior thalamus support memory functions. In order to investigate this, neuronal activity will be recorded in these brain regions as rats perform various spatial and contextual memory tasks. Optogenetic, chemogenetic and neurochemical methods will be used to suppress neuronal activity in various components of this circuit in order to assess their contributions to functioning in the broader memory circuit. By monitoring neuronal responses as subjects learn and the effects of temporary inactivation within the circuit, it will be possible to determine how memory related information is processed and how memory may fail when damage occurs within the circuit.